Selangor Sand Mining Saga Part II

Pursuant to my first posting on this matter, this particular issue has got much bigger and serious. MP Kapar, YB S Manikavasagam has now alleged rampant corrupt practices in Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd, the company that was awarded the sole licence for sand mining in Selangor. It has now been established that the company is a State Government Company, or more specifically called a “Mentri Besar Incorporated” company, of which TS Khalid Ibrahim himself is the Chairman.

Now that YB Mike (as he is popularly known in Kapar and PKR circles) has exposed this case by alleging that the top company officials and several senior PR ADUNS are involved in corrupt practices on this sand mining issue, I wonder what the authorities – MACC and state agencies in charge will do. In fact, YB Mike’s colleague, YB Wee Choo Keong alleged in his blog that “he was told two high ranking elected representatives in the State Government and several KSSB officials were involved in the scandal involving many millions of ringgit”.

YB Mike also claimed that his allegations are backed by documents and statutory declarations that were signed by those inside the company. In fact, one of the readers of my first posting also alleged that he knew of the corrupt practices by the ADUNS and KSSB officials. I am also shocked to learn that YB Mike had received several death threats on his mobile phone pursuant to his meeting and expose to the TS Khalid.

I tend to agree with YB Mike that the State’s Selcat (Select Committee on Competency, Accountability and Transparency) should not be the investigating body. Selcat is made up of ADUNs mainly from PR with just 2 ADUNs I believe from BN. The chances of cover-up is high should this be the case. Probably, MACC should step in or an independent body set up made up of people with authority but with enough experience and knowledge. Of course, we cannot have a Royal commission on this matter as what Lim Kit siang had asked on certain other issues.

The death threats are also very unbecoming of a state commercial issue. Since when is a state issue being handled in such a rogue and gangster like manner? I hope this kind of threats and practices do not continue to become a culture anywhere in Malaysia. It also does not bode well for the PR Selangor State Government’s image.

I hope YB Mike will not get cold feet by all these. Kudos to YB Mike and YB Wee Choo Keong for exposing this case, whatever their reasons might be.

On another note, I remember YB Lim Kit Siang and YB Karpal Singh had asked the IGP to resign recently over the fatal shooting incident by a policeman in Shah Alam recently. Though two different cases and in different manners, ultimately they were asking the head to take responsibility and resign. I wonder if we can also ask TS Khalid to take responsibility and blame for this act of corruption in KSSB (being a Mentri Besar Inc company) and by the PR Selangor ADUNs. Should we call for TS Khalid’s resignation too?